Variable-pressure power pump



Dec, 30, 1924. 1,521,461

J. F'. MADDEN VARIABLEPRESSURE P OWER PUMP fu u u J'. P. MADDEN VARIABLE PRESSURE POWER PUMP Dec. 30. 1924. I 1,521,461

Filed June 2 1921 4 sheets-sheemz 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 J. P. MADQEN 33 y v nnw. v L Wm Filed June 2, 1921 VARIABLE.,PRESSURETPOWER PUMP- H i I l I .B/,L'f

Dec. 30. 1924.

Dec. 3. m24.

' 1. P. MADDEN VARIABLE PRESSURE POWER PUMP Filed June 2, 1921 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 2J ml WM/ Patented Dec. 30, l924.

UNIT E -S T ATES `P ATLEN T ,Fl C 1E JAMES P. MADDEN, GIF BETHLEHEEI, PENNSYLVANA, ASSGNQR TO STEEL CMPNY, OF BETHLEHEM, PENNSYLVANA, A' C QRPORATJIQN BENN- SYLVANIA.

i Application Efiled Juner 2.,

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it; known that l, dni/irs F. Mannnm a citizen ofthe "United States, Iand residing at Betlileliein,county ofl'iehigluState of Fennsylvania, have invented-certain new and useful Improvements in Variable-Pressure Power Pumps, of which the' following is a specification.

The present invention relates to power pumps and more `particularly JCO-irnprovements kin the typecf pumps adapted to supply fluid under pressure for `eperations in which a largeivolume of fluid at'low pressure is required during the first stages of the operation and a-smaller volumeat higher pressure is 'required' for :the completion-of the'operation. This -type of pumpusually consists of a plurality of cylinders ofdif- .ferent bores ywhich are successively rendered inoperative, the largest heingthrown out first whereby only the smallest cylinder-1s employed for producing the Ahighest pressures.

The `principal object of the present invention isto provide ay novel means for .rendering the cylinders ofthe pump successively portion l2 of .reduced .diameter --andreciinoperative. To this end, accordingtothe present invention the inlet valves of the cylinders are successively held open .as the pressure of ,thefluid discharged from the pump increases.

Other objects vand features of noyelty will he apparent from the description taken in connection with the drawings in which:

Figure l ,is a Side elevation of a pump constructed in accordance with the present invention, certain parts being shown insection;

Figure 2 is a Atop plan view ofthe pump; Figure 3 is a longitudinal sectional elevation Ytaken through a set of cylinders ofthe Pump;

vFigure lis a sectionalelevation taken substantially on the line l-l of Fig. l;

`Figure 5 is sectional elevation of a portion of the governing-mechanism;

Figure 6 is an elevation of a detail, and Figure 7 illustrates a modification of the valve controlling mechanism.

Referring to the drawings Aandmore particularly the planview of Figure 2, it-will he seen that the invention is illustrated in fold 25.

1921. Serial `No. 474,332.

connection Ywith a `.pumpcomprising three groups of cylinders, .eac-h consisting of'three cylinders vdisposed in vrtandempr in align ment. The cylinders of each group. are or" differentsizes and vmechanism is provided whereby the cyl-indersheginning with the largest are successively rendered `inoperative. This mechanism, .according to the present inventionconsists of devices active on the inlet valves of the cylinders to 'hold them open thereby rendering the cylinders Vinoperative to ldischarge fluid.

larly to Fig. 3' the largest pump comprises a plunger '12 reciprocated loytheconnecting rod 13 actuated by the-crank shaft ll. The plunger 12 is reciprocated .in the large cylinder lll. The plunger .l2 has its forward procating in a cylinder 15. l Thevthird cylin- .der ofthe group/is provided by forming a cylindrical recess lGin the end ofthe-plunger l2 which receives the stationary plunger or piston 17'v carried -by the head 18ct. cylinder 15. Thestationary plunger 17 is formed with an `arial duct 19t@ `convey fluid toand from the cylinder A16.

As stated, there are a plurality -of these groups ofcylinders or pumps, three being shown. `.Each of thepumps is provided with an inlet anddischarge valve. `Thus the discharge valves 2O forthe large cylinders or pumps l2 are disposed in a discharge manifold 21 extending transverselypf the pump. Likewise the discharge -valves QQjforv the middle size pumps are carried 'by a dischargemanifold 23. Finallythe discharge valve .24 for the ,small er high pressure pumps are carried by the discharge mani- The valvesdn yeach manifold are connected by suitable. passages. rlhus as shownrin 4 the discharge valves Q2 are connected -by the transverse `rpassages, 26.

Furthermore eaclrof the-- manifolds 2.1, :23

low pressure pumps have the suction boxes 32 provided with suction valves 33.'A

In accordance with the present invention it is desired to open the inlet valves ofthe pumps or cylinders as the pressure in the discharge main increases thus successively rendering the pumps, from the -largest to the smallest, inoperative. F or this purpose, in the form of apparatus shown the exhaust main carries a bonnet 34. A piston or spindle 35 is slidable inthe bonnet and has Y its lower end exposed to the fluid under pressure in the discharge main. rlhis tends to move the piston or spindle 35 upwardly as viewed in Fig. 5 but this movement is resisted by a spring 36, one end of which acts on a collar 37 carried by the spindle and the vother end of which bears on the top of the bonnet 34. The spindle or. piston 35 projects above the top of the bonnet and'carries a transverse bar 38 at the opposite ends of which are the depending rods 39 and 40. These rods are threaded at their upper ends and clamped to the bar 38 by nuts 4l on the opposite sides of the bar. The rods at their lower ends have semi-spherical heads 39 and 40 respectively. The rod 39 is* disposed in a notch 42 in the end of a. crank arm 43 secured to a shaft 44 extending l transversely of the entire pump. ln a similar manner' the rod 40 extends through a ynotch 45 in a crank arm 46 secured to a shaft 47 parallel to the said shaft 44. lWhen the transverse bar 38 moves upwardly the head39 will engage crank 43 and thereby turn ythe shaft 44. ln a similar manner after the bar 38 has movedl to a greater extent the head 40 will engage crank arm 46 and turn shaft 47. The crank arms 43 and 46 are held in substantially horizontal or' normalpositions by pins 48 which engage bearing brackets 49 and prevent downward movement of the crank arms.

Referring to Figs2 and 3 it will be seen that the shaft 44 carries three arms 50, one for each of the large cylinders or pumps. A reach rod 5l depends from each of the arms 50, the upper end of the rod having an ad- 'justable washer or collar 52 between which and the arm is a spring 53. The lower ends of the rods 5l are secured to levers 54 pivoted at 55 to suitable supports and intermediate the ends thereof carrying push rods 56 extending up through the inlet pipes 57 -and adapted to engage the lower ends of the order to permit the slight swinging of lever 54 without causingv binding of thepush rods 56. f

. In a similar manner the inlet valves 3l of the intermediate pumps orV cylinders are adapted to be operated by upward move ment of the transverse bar 38. Thus Vthe shaft 47 carries three arms 50 at the free ends of which are supported the reach rods 5l through the medium-ofthe'springs 53'.

At their lower ends thesereach rods 5l are connected to levers 54 which in turn are pivoted at 55 and intermediate Atheir ends Voperate the push rods 56 which are adapted asY to open the inlet valves 3l by upward movey ment. These. push rods are disposed in the inlet pipes 57 and guided therein by any suitable means such'as the transverse studs 58,. l Y

In operation, a spring 36 of proper Y" strength being disposed in the bonnet, when the pressure-in the discharge main reaches a value sufficient to move the transverse bar cylinders opened. The upward movement of the bar 38 carries head 39 yupwardly also which turns crank armV 43 and shaft 44 thereby raising all of the arms 50 and through springs 53, reach rods 5l, levers 54 and push rods 56 opening the inlet valves33. Y These valves will be held open as long as the pressure is maintained in Vthe discharge. main. In case the upward movement of transverse bar 38 `occurs when the pistons or plunger-s 12 are on a compression stroke, the rpressure within the cylinders 14 will be offsuch value that the inlet valves 33 will not open against the same. The movement ofbar 38, however, will compress springs 53 so that on' the return or suction stroke of the pistons, thil energy stored in said springs will open the valves 33. Y

After the largest cylinders have been rendered inoperative, the pump will con tinue to operate with the remaining cyl inders gradually building up a greater pres sure in the discharge main, but delivering a smaller quantity of fluid. This increase of pressure in the discharge, main will continue to move thefbar or cross-head 38 upwardly and after a certain amount of movement the headj40 on the rod 40 will engage crank arm 46 and turnY Vshaft 47V only the high-pressure cylinders operative for completingl the operation sought to be accomplished.

Hence it the regulator spring oiiers al1-initial resistance equivalent to 300 lbs. per square inch in the discharge main, the large cylinders or pumps 14 will be renderedvinopera'tive atter the pressure in the discharge main reaches 300 lbs. per square inch. Then, the length 01"' rod 40 being greater than that of rod 39, the pressure in the discharge main builds up and when it reaches a value say of 600 lbs. per square inch the head 40 engages arm 46 and opens the inlet valves of the intermediate. cy linders.

Figure 7 illustrates a modied form of valve. actuating mechanism. 1n this arrangement the litt rods 512 associated with the large cylinders extend directly from the levers 5-1- to the cross head 38 so that the inlet valves ot' the large cylinders will be opened upon movement ot the piston or spindle 35. The lift rods 512 pass through the crossheads 38 and are dependingly supported therefrom by means of the springs 53H retained in place by the adjustable collars 52', threaded to the rods 512. The springs 53 function in a manner similar to that described above for the springs 53. Preferably the bonnet 34 is disposed centrally with respect to the width of the pump, so that the pull on the outside rods 512 will balance each other and not bind the piston 35. 1n a similar manner the other end ot' the cross head 38 is connect-ed to the levers 54 by the rods 513. The push rods 562 associated with the inlet valves of the intermediate cylinders however have their upper ends spaced from the inlet valves so that said inlet valves will not be opened until after the cross-head 38 has moved Aupwardly a suiiicient amount to bring the upper ends ot said push rods in contact with the inlet valves. 1n other words, in both forms ot the invention there is a lost motion connection between the cross-head 38 and the inlet valves of the intermediate cylinders.

That is claimed is:

1. 1n a pump ot the character described, in combination, a pair ot cylinders adapted to discharge fluid at different pressures, each cylinder having individual inlet and outlet valves, a common discharge pipe, and means to hold open the inlet valve of the low pressure cylinder when the pressure in the discharge pipe reaches a predetermined amount including al movable member subjected to the pressure in the discharge pipe, yieldable means associated with said member to resist movement thereof due to said pressure, and means operatively connecting said member and the inlet valve of the low pressure cylinder.

2. 1n a pump et the character described, in combination, at least three cylinders ot' diii'erent displacements, each cylinder having individual inlet and outlet valves, a common discharge pipe, means to successively hold open the inlet valves ot' the largest and intermediate cylinders as the pressure in said pipe increases including a lost motion connection loperative on the inlet valve oi the intermediate cylinder.

3. 1n a pump or' the character described, in combination, at least 'threecylinders of different displacements, each cylinder having individual inlet and out-let valves, a common discharge pipe, means to successively hold open the inlet valves of the largest and intermediate cylinders as the pressure in said pipe increases including a pressure responsive device connected to actuate the inlet valve oi the largest ey linder, and a similar connection to actuate the inlet valve of the intermediate cylinder there being lost motion in the last men tioned connection.

4t. 1n a continuously running pump, in combination, an outlet duct, a valve controlling the discharge of uid through said duct, an inlet valve, a device for terminating the discharge into said duct when the pressure therein has reached a predetermined value comprising a reciprocable member actuated by the pressure in the duct to move in one direction, yieldable means on said member for resisting such movement and means connecting said member with said inlet valve to hold it open when said predetermined pressure has been reached.

5. 1n a continuously running pump, in combination, an outlet duct, a valve controlling the discharge of fluid through said duct, an inlet valve, a regulator controlling the discharge into said duct comprising a piston, a casing therefor opening into said discharge duct to permit pressure therein to act on the piston, yieldable means cooperating with said piston to resist said pressure, a lifting member for said inlet valve and adjustable connections between said piston and lifting member, whereby the inlet valve will be opened when the pressure in the duct overcomes said yieldable means.

6. A continuously running pump including in combination, a pair of tandem cylinders of different diameters, each cylinder having individual inlet and outlet valves, the outlet valves controlling the discharge into. a common discharge pipe; a regulator having a housing opening into said discharge pipe, said regulator comprising a weighted piston in said housing adjusted to withstand a predetermined pressure in said discharge pipe, a lifting rod for the inlet valve of the larger pump cylinder, a

large Cylinder to discharge through its in# let instead of through its discharge, While the slnalleil cylinder continues to `discharge into said pipe.V y

In testimony VWhei'eof l hereunto aii'iX my signature. 1

JAMES P. MADDEN' 

